Swanson (photo via Joe Camporeale-US Presswire)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Cub Swanson has been doing his best to move past the submission loss he suffered versus Ricardo Lamas last November, as following stoppage wins over George Roop and Ross Pearson, the featherweight is closing in on a memorable campaign. Up next, at UFC 152, Swanson will take on Charles Oliveira, and a win over the highly regarded prospect would certainly improve the vet’s contender status.

“I figured that our division is so crazy, there’s so many talented guys, and I know I took out two guys who were up there and are very dangerous fighters,” the 28 year-old Swanson recently told Full Contact Fighter. “I took this fight because it’s another dangerous fighter and I just felt like I’m not injured, I can go out there and take out a third top notch guy in the division, and just kind of sit and hear what happens.”

“If it’s not a title shot after that, then maybe a number one contender fight,” Swanson (17-5) added. “You know, whatever. I’m just taking it one fight at a time and enjoying the ride.”

Oliveira arrived in the UFC armed with a hefty reputation, but after incurring the first losses of his career to Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone, the lightweight decided to move to 145 pounds. Since then, “do Bronx” has returned to form, by recording submission wins over Eric Wisely and most recently former TUF winner Jonathan Brookins.

“He’s got an awesome record and his only two losses came against great fighters at 55,” Swanson noted about the 22 year-old. “He’s unbeaten at 45, so if I can add my name to that list of guys that have beaten him that would make me happy.”

To date, all of Oliveira’s (16-2) Octagon wins have come via submission, however, the Brazilian fighter has also recorded several stoppage victories during his still young career.

“He’s definitely dangerous on the ground,” Swanson noted. “I’m a black belt in jiu jitsu as well, but I just think that more recently he’s become more well rounded. When you’re more well rounded it becomes easier to be more dangerous. If I’m looking too much to defend his ground attacks then all of a sudden he’s working his stand-up game.”

Swanson (photo via UFC.com)

Although the 5’7 Swanson will give up some reach in his bout with the lengthy Oliveira, it wasn’t long ago that the Jackson’s MMA fighter was preparing to fight the 6’1 tall Roop.

“Oh definitely. I like fighting tall guys; it’s always been fun for me, so right away I was like ‘nice.’ Bring in the tall sparring partners; let’s do it,” said Swanson. “It came right away, so I’m excited about it.”

While Oliveira has a win over a TUF winner, so does Swanson in the aforementioned Pearson, as the former lightweight won the reality show’s ninth season of competition.

“It was one of the top wins in my career,” said Swanson, while discussing his second round, TKO win over Pearson this past June. “Just because he’s such a tough dude, very recognizable, and it was just perfect timing for me in my career right now. To really start making things happen. That win was huge for me.”

The September 22nd, UFC 152 card will go down in Canada’s largest city of Toronto, and although that means Swanson will make a significant trek north to compete, the veteran is excited about the opportunity.

“It was something I wanted to do,” Swanson noted. “I went to Montreal to corner a fight for Joe Stevenson, and I had a really a good time. A lot of people also told me how awesome Toronto was, and that it was a place I have to check out, especially this time of year. Seeing the response of the fans in Toronto as well, I was like that’s a fight I would love to do, and a place I’d love to go to and put on a good performance.”